Monday, June 23, 2008
Classes in typhoon-hit areas suspended
MANILA -- The National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) announced the suspension of classes on Monday in some towns and provinces in Luzon affected by typhoon Frank (Fengshen).
"Considering risks of flooding and habagat (monsoons), classes in grade school and high school will be suspended tomorrow (Monday) in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, La Union, Benguet and Ilocos Norte," said NDCC spokesman Anthony Golez.
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"In general, suspension of classes shall continue to be governed by existing policies based on storm signal levels," said Golez, quoting Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.
Golez said local officials may declare suspension of classes in their respective areas depending on the weather condition.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said classes are also suspended to affected areas where the schools are being used as evacuation sites, which include some 32 schools in Western Visayas, six in Silay, four in Bacolod, one in Taguig, four in Valenzuela, three in Muntinlupa, seven in Parañaque, four in Sta. Rosa City and two in Batangas.
Lapus said with the change of typhoon path, and the flooding that is expected to follow, classes may also be affected in the provinces in the north, particularly those that would be placed under storm signals like "Pangasinan, Pampanga, Bulacan and Tarlac".
The weather bureau reported that as of 5 p.m. Sunday, typhoon Frank was crossing Central Luzon and is expected to exit over the coast of Pangasinan Sunday night.
It was located in the vicinity of Tarlac or 40 kilometers south of Dagupan City. Frank has maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometer per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.
The weather bureau hoisted signal number 3 over La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales and Pampanga.
Signal number 2 is also raised in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Southern Aurora, Northern Quezon, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Island and Metro Manila.
Apayao, Cagayan, Kalinga, Isabela, rest of Aurora, southern Quezon, Polillo Island, Marinduque and Mindoro Provinces are all under Signal number 1.
Typhoon Frank will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over the western sections of southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. (Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (June 23, 2008 issue)
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